Basic Salad Dressing
This can be used to dress salads, grilled chicken, fish, vegetables, lentils, or almost anything.

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup wine vinegar
salt
freshly ground pepper
1 cup olive oil

1. Combine the mustard with the vinegar.
2. Add the salt and pepper to taste.
3. Whisk in the oil.
You can create your own unique dressing by adding any of the following
items to the basic salad dressing recipe above.

• Add an artichoke heart and puree for a creamy texture
• Substitute sherry, champagne, or raspberry vinegar for the wine vinegar
• Add 2 tablespoons fresh orange, lime, or grapefruit juice
• Add 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, tarragon, mint, basil, or chives
• Add 1 minced garlic clove or a tablespoon of chopped shallots
• Add 2 tablespoons tomato juice and a splash of Tabasco
• Add 1 teaspoon honey
• Add 2 ounces or more Stilton cheese and purse in a blender
• Substitute truffle oil for the olive oil, lemon juice for the vinegar, and purse in a blender with 1 artichoke heart

Ten Indispensable Items to Keep on Hand At All Times
1) A bottle of good vodka in the freezer and plenty of ice
2) Several bottles of chilled white wine and one of champagne
3) A good homemade vinaigrette salad dressing (My basic salad dressing
recipe is listed above.)
4) Frozen chicken, veal, or vegetable stocks
5) The basics: milk, butter, eggs, flour, sugar, and a selection of spices
6) Dijon mustard
7) Prewashed salad
8) Dried pasta and rice and canned Italian tomatoes
9) Good quality virgin olive oil
10) A selection of interesting vinegars, including red wine and balsamic

Five Do’s and Don’ts When Giving Host and Hostess Gifts

1) Do send a bouquet of flowers or a box of gourmet chocolates to your hosts in advance with a note telling them how much you’re looking forward to the evening or the day after the party thanking them for a wonderful time.
2) Do leave personalized stationery, if you have it, with the florist or choco-latier you use regularly. Whenever you want to send a gift, you can simply dictate a message to be attached to the gift on your letterhead.
3) Do look for creative gifts. A few of my favorites are fragrant candles and lovely bottles of imported olive oils or gourmet jams. Of course, if you can’t find these, a good bottle of wine or champagne is appropriate for almost any occasion.
4) Don’t show up at the door with an enormous bouquet of cut flowers. You’ll force the hostess to drop what she’s doing and assume the role of florist, finding a vase and cutting stems rather than welcoming other guests.
5) Don’t show up for a dinner party with baked goods. Chances are your hosts already have the menu planned and you’ll make them feel obligated to adjust it to include the dish you’ve brought.

Don’t be afraid of color. Many people limit themselves to subdued, monochromatic settings and miss out on all the vibrant colors and unusual textures that bring your table——and your guests’ appetites— to life. The table is a perfect palette for creativity and creating a beautiful table can be as easy as adding a splash of color for the holidays with salad plates in vibrant olive, cocoa, or persimmon with gold rims.

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Malibu, California 90265
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